for people who want to know more about Divisoria and my journey towards being a Mama!

I wrote this as an ode to someone who helped me when I had dengue. He requested me not to divulge his name so I’ll just refer to him as Angel.

THE SICKNESS

My family has been touched by dengue twice, first me, and my brother in law second. And that for me is twice too many.

I had dengue when I was pregnant. It was my 1st trimester so the risk was high. I remember being sick and weak for a week. We didn’t even know it was dengue at first. We thought I just had the flu. I stayed home, bed ridden, had no appetite and was crazy dizzy all the time. I was prescribed antibiotics by my OB, who assured me that it was safe for the baby. But after I finished the round of antibiotics, I was still sick. My fever was on and off. And I was still really weak which I normally wasn’t, even when I was pregnant. My OB decided it’s time to take a blood test. I even asked if I can do it in the morning, but my OB said she would be more comfortable if I had it immediately, in the middle of the night. So my husband rushed me to the hospital and the tests were done.

THE HOSPITAL CONFINEMENT

Then the result came. My platelets has drop to 70,000. Normal platelet range is 150,000 – 400,000/cubic mm. I was confined immediately. The next day, it dropped to 40,000. My husband had a worried look in his face all the time but tried to hide it. I only wanted to eat banana. My OB was worried. My good friend Winnielyn was checking on me all the time. She was even bringing food to the hospital for my brother and husband. (how thoughtful!) my OB called in another doctor the help, a dengue specialist. We talked about my case, he said he wants to be very careful coz I’m pregnant, but there is no need to panic coz I’m not bleeding anywhere. He also told me that he is not planning blood transfusion yet coz he thinks I don’t need it. There are some docs who would consider it when reaching a certain level, but I’m glad he is more open minded. He is more concerned with the negative effect blood transfusion would have on my baby.

I hated needles! They were drawing my blood 2 times a day. My arms were black and blue from all the needle pricks. They ran out of veins to draw blood on so they started drawing from the back of my hand. The only good thing that came from having my blood drawn so many times I lost my fear of them! Well…. almost…haha! I was hooked to an IV with meds but my platelet was still dropping. My platelet record low was 27,000. They were all getting worried. I was worried more for my baby.

Then a CURE came.

THE CURE

I think what saved me; aside from my doctors, science and prayers was a SOUP COOKED BY AN ANGEL. A friend of a friend. He cooked soup for me. And I didn’t even get to meet the person. We just communicated via cell phone. My friend gave my husband the cell number to call. He was asked questions like when I started having fever, what was my platelet count and was scolded a little when the Angel found out I was pregnant saying “Why did you just contact me now!?” He was given the instruction to have someone bring a thermos immediately to an address and get the soup, and have me drink all of it.

The soup was like a broth. Whitish in color. It wasn’t tawa-tawa as some thought. I later found out that Angel cooks the soup for dengue patients —anyone who calls, anytime, free of charge.

Normally one doze of the soup is enough to make the patient better. Some require 2 dozes. I drank it twice. The taste is not unpleasant, but it’s bland. And when you’re sick, it’s harder to swallow.

ANGEL’S STORY

He does this as an act of charity. After some prying, Angel told me that they are not that rich, that a lot of times he has to buy the ingredients even when he is short on money coz he can’t find the heart to deny moms crying over the phone asking for help to save their kids. He finds ways to always have a batch in his freezer should anyone calls in the middle of the night. He told me if he sold the medicine he would surely be rich by now since he has been cooking the soup for 8 years. But he chooses not to, to give thanks to the person who taught him the recipe — because at one time, he was that parent, the worried one, when his eldest had dengue. And someone’s granddaughter called him up to tell him what to do, how to cook the soup, but the creepy side of the story is the grandma who gave the instructions has already passed away. He followed the instruction, fed his son the soup and his boy got well. At first he only gave it to family and close friends. Then word spread like wildfire and people he from all walks of life started calling him asking for the soup. And he made it for all of them, saving someone’s child, sibling or parent one doze at a time.

THE ONE THAT SLIPPED AWAY

One story that he told me he can’t forget was about a mom of 2 daughters, both had dengue at the same time. The mom called him up asking for the soup and he obliged. Sadly the doctor didn’t want the mom to give the soup to her daughters. So she just kept the soup in the ref. Her eldest died. She then took the soup and gave it to her younger daughter. And she got well. Though grieving for the loss of a daughter, the mom was thankful her other daughter survived.

GRATITUDE

One time, he even gave his soup to the daughter of DOST Secretary Mario Montejo. That was the only time he gave someone 3 dozes of the soup. And Sec. Montejo thanked him by treating Angel’s whole family to Subic Tree Top which the Secretary owns.

I also learned by some more prying that some patients who got well insisted on making donations to sponsor future patients. The soup that was given to my brother in law was given by the patient before us who also requested to be kept anonymous. And the chain of anonymity is kept Angel never ever told us this when he gave the soup for me when I was pregnant. We asked how can we help but he just tells us to get well. Once he knows that you’re platelet is up and are going to be discharged from the hospital, he just disappears. He doesn’t text or call just make you feel that you owe him or anything. His mission with you is done.

THE HUMILITY

Before I wrote this article, I asked Angel permission to do so, coz I wanted to thank him in some way. He actually hesitated. He told me: “People don’t have to know what I do to help others. But I can’t stop making the soup coz for a parents to watch their kids die because of a miniscule insect bite is too painful to swallow ” But upon hearing these stories, I encouraged him to let me write this. I told him, it’s just a personal blog. The people I reach are just limited and this story is too beautiful not to share. Up to this day he still remains anonymous to the general public. No publicity stunt, no news has reached him. And he prefers it that way. He likes helping anonymously. He says it might just be the secret to his cure. The benevolence of it, maybe it is.

Since I have been MIA for quite a while, what better way to revive this blog by posting about our latest super fun family photo shoot!

THE CONCEPT

This shoot was the brainchild of Ricky Marzan. He was the one who came up with the outdoor picnic shoot. Manuel Chua came up with the peg for the setup and the props. I came with a car load of props haha! We were aiming for a vintage – shabby chic kind of look. And I think we achieved that! Yay!

THE PREPARATION

Throughout the planning stage we couldn’t decide whether to do it in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Early morning would mean sleepy kids and rushing to prepare the props to get things ready for a shoot that shouldn’t run too long to avoid the heat of the noontime sun. Since it was also raining sporadically during the week, they had to check the weather forecast for that day. Since it said it was less likely to rain in the afternoon, we scheduled the shoot in the afternoon.

THE PROPS

Some of the stuff I had to get from the mall coz a few weeks back I spotted the coolest trunks. But the rest of the stuff we had been either brought by us or our friends from our homes. The vintage lamps are actually the lamps in my daughter’s room. The fabrics that we used were of course from out store ERC Textile Boutique (shameless plug!) The paper lanterns were the ones we used during my daughter’s 1st birthday. (Will blog about that soon!) The native stuff like baskets was from Divisoria. I am, after all Divisoia Mama! We really have everything at arm’s reach here! The popcorn maker, vintage bike and super cute parasol were brought by the Chua’s. The Marzan’s brought the colorful food.

I am a shopper. What better way to fuel my shopping urges than to shop for a conceptualized shoot? My friends, Cora Chua and Cymbelly Marzan are the most supportive and fun friends to hang out with, laugh out loud with while preparing for the shoot. And of course the star of the shoot! The kids! We all pitched in haha! We have the most wonderful kids! No one cried or misbehaved. They just kept on smiling and eating! My daughter Rori is really NOT camera shy. So whenever Denison would shout in his megaphone-like voice for “RROORRRIII!!!” she would strike a pose and smile her heart out or — as shown in the picture below – show her toothy grin.

Limchu Family

Marzan Family

Chua Family

This is what what they looked like when they weren’t eating yet. SAD!

They were more lively when we told them they can start eating!

…. and eating!

… and more eating!

See Rori sticking her tongue out?

This was Rori munching on popcorn knowing mom can’t stop her coz’ her picture was being taken!

MEMORIES

These are what good memories are made of. Good friends having a good time, with good food and having keepsakes of the times we had so much fun.

We are planning to make more shoots in the future, so watch out for more!

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for a checkup. Since it was already afternoon, my husband and I just went to the store to close up. I haven’t been out of the house since I gave birth. No one has seen me since August. The most popular comment was: “Uy dalaga ka na uli…” and “Payat mo ah!”

A friend told me that I look thinner now than I was before I became pregnant. I don’t know since I haven’t really looked. I just know that I must be ok since I wore pants that I used to wear and glad to say they still fit! And when I was looking for shoes, it was the only time when I realized how much I miss wearing my “dalaga” shoes that are not flat…

How did I lose weight? –TAKING CARE OF YOUR BABY and BREASTFEEDING.

Taking care of this little girl requires a lot of energy

How can you not lose weight when all you do is feed your baby, and take care of her? Don’t get me wrong, I love my baby, and I love my time with her. But doing it at 3:00 am is not something you look forward to everyday. My baby cries a lot, not colicky, just cries normally. But she also can sleep longer now compared to when she just came home. So I don’t ask for more. Good thing I don’t sleep early. I love sleeping but I don’t mind staying up late. I have a rule of thumb that I follow – no matter how short my sleep is, as long as 2:00 am passes and I’m asleep during that time, I can declare it a good night. Sometimes even when my baby is asleep, I would stay up and surf the net with my Ipad just to make sure she is sleeping soundly and she’s sleeping in the right position. Sometimes I just watch her sleep… I know.. It’s weird. Most of my friends tell me: “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” But sometimes I don’t. I watch her sleep. A friend of mine once told me, she would sleep at night but every few hours she would wake up and check on her babies. I thought this was a little OC. Well in some ways we all are a little OC. But now that I’m a mom, I get what she means. I would stay awake just to make sure my baby is sleeping okay. Check her breathing and sleeping position. Make sure nothing is obstructing her breathing… and when I’m sleepy that’s when I would sleep.

Breastfeeding Rori

Breastfeeding helps you lose weight mainly coz you need an extra 500 cal just to keep your milk supply up. And of course your sharing all you nutrients with your baby. And there is all the time you would have t o breastfeed your baby. Even in the middle of the night, even when you’re tired, even when you don’t feel like it, even when she just fed 2 minutes ago. In short, every time your baby wants to feed. It’s called feeding by demand. It’s hard but there is something about being the only one who can feed your baby. That no matter how many people will be in her life. There is that one spot for the mom alone that no one can fill. And for me that’s good enough for me to sacrifice my time, sleep and body over.

My full name now is Elizabeth Co Limchu, I used to be Elizabeth Reyes Co.

It has been a family joke that whenever we would throw a fit or get into a fight that we are “Reyes na Reyes.” Seriously, we have stories within the Reyes family that would make you say “OMG! Really!?! “ But other than being quite the hotheads, I can proudly say that being a Reyes is one of the best things about me. They gave me character. They gave me fire. I don’t really take things sitting down, and I don’t back away from a fight unless I think it is wiser to do so. We are tough. We are fearless.

I’m very stubborn, and the good thing about my stubbornness and hardheadedness is that I actually use that to get me through tough times. I’m so hardheaded; I wouldn’t allow myself to fail.

When I gave birth via C section, I specifically gave my OB my birth plan which included “no formula, no glucose water for baby” and “room in immediately.” Unfortunately, the hospital I gave birth in is NOT very breastfeeding friendly. So my daughter who was supposed to be roomed in immediately was kept in the nursery. I called up the nursery, asking how come my baby wasn’t in the room yet, they said there were no instructions yet, so they have to verify with the pedia. Then I asked if they can make it faster coz I had to breastfeed my baby, and since I had specific instructions not to feed anything to my baby, she might get hungry. And I really wanted my baby to get collostrum. Then the nurse told me: “Mam, it’s ok, I think someone already gave your baby formula” This made me so mad I wanted to hit someone with the handset in my hand. (I’m not a violent person, promise. It’s just hormones and violent thoughts) When I questioned them about this, she just told me, “Mam, I’ll check then get back to you.” Which she didn’t do. This fueled my anger even more. So I called some people that I know who are breastfeeding advocates, and asked them what to do. One person who really was ready to help even if it was already midnight was Ms. Nona of The Breastfeeding Clinic. She really helped me think of what I wanted, and know how I should speak to the staff and let them know that I know my rights. She even volunteered to speak to them on the phone should they refuse to believe me. Let me tell you, the people who are fighting for breastfeeding rights nowadays are not to be taken lightly. Ms. Nona for example is the first and currently the only non-doctor in the Philippines who passed the accreditation for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants or IBCLC. In short, she’s one tough breastfeeding momma.

After being aware that the mother in 313 (that’s me!) was ready to bite someone’s head off, someone called me and told me there was a mistake, that my baby wasn’t given formula after all. This didn’t appease me; it just made me think that other than being incompetent, they are now trying to cover up their mistake by lying. In the end I got to the truth. This to my utter dismay, she was given glucose water— twice! Imagine my anger and rage… I mean I have prepared myself for this for 9 months! I knew it was gonna be hard and painful, but it was a decision that I made! And to have that decision made for me without regard for my preference was totally unacceptable for me.

As if going through all this hoopla wasn’t enough, they told me that I cannot room in my baby yet. And the feeding time for the baby will start 7:00 am. I gave birth at 1:51pm, this was already 1:00 am. I asked the nurse “so you mean all the babies there are on a schedule? That they can only go hungry at 7:00am? And not a minute before that? I want to breastfeed my baby. I don’t care who you have to call, bring her here if you can. Do it now! I will breastfeed my baby.”

She called me back after a few minutes. Told me that they have spoken to their superiors and the only way I can breastfeed my baby is IF I CAN STAND UP AND GO TO THE NURSERY MYSELF. I just had a C-section a few hours before. I was not even allowed to use a pillow, and here they were asking me to stand up, get in a wheelchair and walk to the breastfeeding room alone (coz husbands are not allowed), with my catheter and IV, sit in a chair, and breastfeed my newborn baby. Crazy right? Did I do it? OF COURSE I DID! It was for my baby. A bulletproof tank couldn’t have stopped me. My husband kept asking if I’m sure I want to do this. I might faint. Thank God I’m not the fainting kind of girl. And I told him, even if I feel like fainting; I wouldn’t allow them to see me faint. I breastfed my baby at 1:00am, 3:00am, 6:00am and 10:00am. And every time I would go feed her, a nurse would tell me, “Mommy you know, you should feed her formula by now, she’s getting hungry, sayang she’s big pa naman, she’s gonna become thin in no time.” or “Maybe you should give her water? Since you don’t have any milk yet?”And I would say something like “I’ll take care of it…thanks” Even if I total disagree with them just because I knew my daughter will still be in their care after I breastfeed…

alone with Baby Rori in the breastfeeding room, with IV and catheter on, but still breastfeeding

When my OB called and found out what happened, she was so mad, she went up to the nursery and scolded all the nurses. How dare they tell me – her patient to get up after a major operation? They said, the reason they told me to go to the nursery was to DETER me from going. Little did they know that it only gave me more drive to do so! Coz this breastfeeding mom kicks butt and would do anything— as in anything for my baby.

Baby Rori roomed in at last

So to sum up this post: here are some pieces of advice:

1.) If you plan to breastfeed, look for a breastfeeding friendly hospital.

2.) Make sure everyone who will handle your baby gets a copy of your birth plan.

3.) Find a supportive pedia, particularly one who supports and believes in breastfeeding.

So here was the deal. I was armed and ready. I took classes for everything pregnant. Birthing class, Breastfeeding Class 101, 202 and 303, Yaya trained and ready, monthly checkup with the OB was going as planned, baby stuff all washed and ready to use. Birth plan printed and signed. During my 6th month of pregnancy, my OB was concerned that my baby was small, but after some tests, they reassured me that she’s fine and her size is still within normal range. Then one day, towards the end of my pregnancy, during a Biophysical Profile (BPP) – this is also Ultrasound, but takes longer and is more detailed coz they quantify the figures, baby’s physical measurement, amniotic fluid, etc… They told me the news. You’re having a BIG BABY.

The sonologist couldn’t believe the measurement she was taking. She had to repeat it 3 times. But in the end the result was the same. At 39 weeks, my baby was already 8.14lbs and I was only 50% effaced ( for the non moms, meaning my uterus has not thinned out totally. It has to be 100% effaced during birth) and I was only 1 cm dilated (to give birth, cervix has to open up to 10cm). My OB’s first reaction of “OH! MY!” kind of gave me the clue that I’m gonna be a challenge for them.

So after multiple BPPs and NST (non stress test – this is when they hook you up to a fetal monitor, and monitor your baby’s heartbeat, contractions and movement) I faced my fears and talked to my OB about the inevitable – C Section. I know a lot of people who gives birth thru CS, and I know it’s not a big deal, other than the fee is double of normal birthing, but this was huge for me coz for almost 9 months, this wasn’t what I was psyching myself for. It felt like I studied so hard for a certain exam for so long, then none of the questions in the test was gonna be taken from the book that I studied from.

But thanks to friends and family who gave birth thru CS, they have appeased my mind that if CS is the only way to go, then embrace it. My sister in law even told me: “Just think of it as saving your vagina! Haha!!!”

So when I talked to my OB, I was more prepared with my questions and was ready to hear the answers. I asked her if is it still possible to give birth naturally (meaning using LAMAZE method -no anesthesia) and normally (vaginal birth). Take note that by this time, not even a week has passed since my last BPP, and my 8.4 lbs baby was already 9.7 lbs. at 40 weeks, at 41 weeks, she was a whopping 10.0 lbs (I swear she grew on her own and I didn’t overeat or anything, and the next person who would ask me if I did will be sucker punched in the gut… just kidding… ) She told me that some can give birth to big babies normally, but it’s up to me. I was having strong and consistent contractions by this time, but still 1 cm dilated. The way to do it was to induce me, which would make the contractions even stronger, hopefully to dilate faster. But I was worried coz 8 out 10 people I know who didn’t dilate and were induced ended up in CS anyways, with the mom so tired and in pain and the baby stressed. So I requested that if it seems that what I wanted was impossible, instead of inducing me then waiting 6 hours to dilate (my doc only gave 6 hours so as not to overstress the uterus and the baby) then wait if I could actually still give birth normally – which might jeopardize the health of the baby should she be too big for me to push or God forbid her shoulder or her tummy gets stuck, I requested to give birth via CS. No more trial for normal since even if I dilated, the baby might not fit anyways. And I would rather sacrifice anything than hurt the baby.

And so I was scheduled for CS the day after. The night before, I called up some friends and family and asked what I should expect coz above all, what I feared most was the unknown, and the only way to prepare myself was to KNOW what will happen. When I went to the Delivery Room, the moms who I saw the day before writhing in pain were still there, still in pain. And I was secretly thankful that I wasn’t in their shoes. Things went smoothly, there were moments that I was scared, especially since throughout my pregnancy I was expecting that my husband would be there with me during my labor had I been prepped for a normal birth. But since I was gonna have a CS delivery, hubby wasn’t allowed in the room (but I think some other hospitals allow that now, but not in the hospital I was in) Being an over thinker, the scariest part was the waiting for the OB and the anesthesiologist, lying on the operating table, staring up the big lights and wondering —-How things would go? Would I be ok? Is this the best decision for the baby? I hope she’s normal — and pretty and intelligent too if it’s not too much to ask from God … Can that male nurse just GO AWAY!?! 1st time Mom with no undies on the table here!?!

Then they came. The team who will help me see my angel. They were confident and efficient. My anesthesiologist I remember kept saying “I like that!” he kept making casual conversation with me, telling me that I’m tall “ I like that!” and when he found out I wanted to be awake during the operation so I can immediately latch my baby, he only had to give me “one tap”— another “I like that!” and the male nurse that I wanted to go away was there for a reason, to help me bend to a fetal position – which is really hard with my huge belly so my “i-like-that anesthesiologist” could inject me through my spine, another “your strong! I like that!”, when he found out I’m having a big baby, “I like that!.”

After several more “I like that’s”, and a few moments of not seeing anything but the sheet in front of me, hearing others calling out medical terms, others making casual conversation and some eerie noises of medical equipments later, and the longest moments of deafening silence, I heard the most beautiful sound— The sound of my baby girl crying. I remember my OB giving the staff some of my instructions according to my birth plan. Latch immediately, but since I had CS, they had to cut the cord first and the baby was still a little groggy I guess coz of the meds. No immediate bathing for baby, just pat dry.

And when I saw her, and it made it all worth it. All the pain, worries, sacrifices was forgotten. Some people say giving birth is over rated, that it’s just another human experience, but I beg to differ. I felt a different kind of emotion when I saw her. She took my breath away, she made me want to be more. She made me MOMMY. In all my eloquence the only sentence I was able to utter was— “Ang ganda ganda nya…” then she was brought to the nursery and I was off to lala land…

If you have read my previous posts about the VERY effective Nanny Taining, then you might be interested how our nanny did. Luckily, our yaya graduated with flying colors, so now we are ready for our bundle of joy when she arrives…

I learned that not all yayas are given certificates, some, who weren’t able to perform to the standards of Ms. Menchit are made to keep on practicing the techniques until they are fit to be given the certificate. This speaks of the high quality of education that we employers can expect from the My Dearest Nanny Training.

Also, upon graduating, our nannies are handed letters to be given to us, their employers stating that your nanny has successfully finished the course. Reminders of how to maintain a good relationship with your nanny, and should there be any problems or conflict in the future, they will be willing to act as middle men/ women to fix the relationship between you and your nanny. Isn’t that cool?

Truly, I feel that making our nanny attend this training is one of the best decisions I made for our baby. Our nanny feels more confident, she even tells me that if I would allow it, she would like to give some more instructions to the other maids about cleaning the house because her teacher said that the baby’s environment should be maintained clean all the time. Now for me that’s an attitude change that can only be inspired by an exceptional mentor.

I just had to write this. I posted about it first on facebook, for those who aren’t my “friends” this is what I posted as my recent status:

what is motivation? — baby is due and is still not ready to come out on her own.
what is sacrifice? — climbing up and down the FREAKING stairs 20 times
what is love? — husband climbing alongside with you, even if he’s not pregnant haha

And tonight, to make things more interesting, I decided to climb up and down the stairs with a purpose. We usually eat dinner at the 2nd floor of our house, and since I need to climb up and down anyways, I decided to carry the left over dishes and used plates and glasses to the kitchen rather than just ask the maid to get it after dinner. But since I have a very supportive family, this became the game plan:

Shoti at the top of the stairs waiting to hand me the dish

My fur babies escorting me down the stairs – they thought we’re playing a game!

My other fur baby waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs

Maid at the bottom of the stairs to get the dishes

I think I’m very blessed to have this kind of family!

Baby Limchu, please come out soon, mommy and the whole family (yes, even the dogs!) are excited to meet you! mwah!